On 9 August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed Australia should establish a timetable to ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, while building Australia’s capacity to generate high value recycled commodities and associated demand.
COAG’s agreement reflects increasing concern in Australia and around the world about plastic pollution of our oceans and the need to ensure that exports of waste do not cause harm to human health and the environment.
On 8 November 2019, Commonwealth, state and territory Environment Ministers agreed that waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres that have not been processed into a value-added material should be subject to the export ban. By early 2020, Ministers will provide further advice on final timetables, definitions and response strategies to First Ministers for their confirmation.
- For more information visit: https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/coag-waste-export-ban-consultation
- To read the AIEN submission please click here.